Winifred Gillen Lawrence
1/2/2009

Winifred Gillen Lawrence, 72, Normal, formerly of Colchester, died Nov. 11, 2008.

She was born Nov. 14, 1935, in Beardstown, the daughter of Francis and Helen (Skiles) Gillen.

She married 2nd Lt. John R. Lawrence in Galesburg in 1954. He survives.

She is also survived by her children, Bob Lawrence, Bethesda, Md., and his sons, Christopher and Bobby; Jane (David) Beveridge, Ellicott City, Md., and their daughters, Wendy and Gail; Bill (Jan) Lawrence, Normal, and their family John and Kate and also Kristen and Adam Page and their sons Jonathan and Jackson.

She was a 1953 graduate of Virginia High School, graduating as valedictorian and senior class president. Shortly after marrying, the Army service took her and her husband to Georgia, Germany and Kansas.

She attended Knox College for one year and later continued her education in New York. She graduated with honors, receiving a bachelor of professional studies from Pace University in 1975. Further studies at Manhattan College in the Bronx, N.Y. earned her a master of arts in reading in 1979 followed by a master’s in special education.

Other than her family, her career in special education with the Board of Cooperative Educational Services in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., serving for over 25 years as teacher, guidance counselor and curriculum adviser for students with special needs. While there, she received continuous recognition as an outstanding teacher and adviser.

She and her husband returned to the Macomb area to be near their son, restaurateur Bill Lawrence (Damones) and his family. After moving to Colchester in 1994, she was a frequent substitute teacher in the Colchester district.

Funeral services were held Nov. 14, 2008, at Funk’s Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Winifred G. Lawrence Scholarship in Nursing, Illinois State University’s College of Nursing, Normal.

Calvert-Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, was in charge of arrangements.